Adolescent Pregnancy in Chile: A Social, Cultural, and Political Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive overview and discussion of pregnancy and sexuality among youth in Chile from a social, cultural, and political perspective. Trends and patterns of a number of behaviors (i.e., pregnancy rates, infant mortality rates, use of contraceptives, attitudes toward sex) are presented, and the historical influences on contemporary youth are discussed. We argue that youth live under competing epistemological stances that converge and play out within the social space as both promoting sexualized behavior and admonishing it. These confusing and seeming arbitrary messages (both explicit and implicit through the denial of sexual health education) are likely to have a confusing and negative effect on the lives and development of Chilean adolescents. Today, Chile maintains a democratically lead government and claims to be the most economically and socially stable country in Latin America. These changes have dramatically changed the social and political climate for all Chileans and especially for adolescent females. Young Chilean girls and boys must not only manage the changing hormonal and social pressures of their adolescent lives, but they must also navigate a current reality marked by historical, religious, cultural, economic, and political processes. This chapter posits that the complex social realities of Chilean history and present social and political realities contribute to the country’s failure to properly address issues concerning adolescent sexuality, sexual and reproductive rights, health, and education, and teenage motherhood. We conclude that Chilean policies and practices need to align with the changing social realities, however, for this to occur a new radical approach needs to be considered especially for those young women who are the most vulnerable in society.